Meet the Team: Lili Muñoz
Join us in our latest installment of the Meet the Team series as we spotlight the driving force behind Mujeres Makers Market—Lili Muñoz. As our Cofounder and Director of Operations, Lili champions local businesses and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
Get to know more about Lili by delving into our interview with her below.
Tell us about how Mujeres Makers Market got started! What brought you all together and inspired you to start MMM.
This idea came about one day when all 5 of us original co-founders casually found each other at Farmer and the Flea in February 2021. I came up with the crazy idea and magically, Elysia, Maritza, Daniela, and Leah all said yes when I casually asked if they would be interested in organizing a Market together. After we were all onboard we all started creating equally. We had our first meeting on March 8th, 2021 and decided to host our first market in May of 2021. We all came together because we had a desire to create something new together. We all have similar backgrounds in the sense that we are all Latinas and from Santa Barbara born and raised. Our north star was creating an event we wished existed in Santa Barbara. We rolled up our sleeves and took it upon ourselves to create this idea for us and others to benefit.
As a co-founder, what’s your day-to-day involvement with MMM?
I'm currently the Director of Operations, I answer general e-mails, Oversee daily operations, communicate between different departments, implement strategies to meet goals, strategize productivity and efficiency, ideas for growth and monetization.
Lili, you’re passionate about supporting local entrepreneurs and creatives. I wanted to know how you originally got plugged into the maker community in SB and what drives your passion.
It all started back in 2017 when I created my business Colibri Handmade, a business that focuses on working directly with artisans to sell handmade goods from; Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia. I dove deep in the maker community when I quit my corporate job in 2018. At that point I was applying and researching markets and other opportunities where I could promote my business.
What advice or tips would you give someone looking to start their own business?
Don't wait to be ready, yes prepare as much as you can but then just go for it, you will learn as you go!
What’s your favorite memory about MMM?
I have a lot of amazing memories but I will go with the memory of the very first market, I'll never forget that day and feeling! Our first market was at a small tire shop on Milpas. It's special for many reasons, one being that it was in the neighborhood where a lot of us co founders grew up. It was a special day because we were nervous, we had so many doubts we wondered if customers would even show up, nervous about the turnout etc. The outcome exceeded our expectations, so many customers showed up. Many vendors sold out and it was a beautiful vibe. People seemed happy and that made everything worth it.
Leah, Lili, Elysia, and Maritza
We’d love to know what you enjoy doing in your free time, when you’re not working, of course!
Well lately I don't have a lot of free time, I work 1 full time job at Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and then have three side gigs Mujeres Makers Market being one of them so when I do have a bit of time I practice a lot of self -care and work on my personal healing. I'm pretty boring these days jaja I'll be fun again next year!
How can people find you? What’s the best way to check out all your magic?
You can follow my Colibri Handmade business on Instagram @colibri_la you can also reach out to me at Lili@teddybearcancerfoundation.org if you would like to get involved with the organization I work at, we have great donor and volunteer opportunities.
